NASA’s unmanned Voyager 2 spacecraft may have put it best when it “tweeted” from beyond the solar system: “Farewell, humans. Sort it out yourselves.”

Most employees at NASA are now among the million U.S. government employees on forced leave because congress has failed to pass a spending bill, forcing a shutdown.

The world is watching in seeming disbelief. So, is America a failed state?

Not quite, but the apparent failure of the American congress to govern certainly raises the question. If we were covering some of the far-flung failing states we often do, we’d know just how to put it.

“The capital’s rival clans find themselves at an impasse, unable to agree on a measure that will allow the American state to carry out its most basic functions. … The current crisis has raised questions in the international community about the regime’s ability to govern this complex nation of 300 million people.”

That, of course, was a satirical post; it appeared in the online magazine Slate, but it just about fits.

A small cabal of representatives in the House have blocked passage of a government spending bill, and are threatening to default on America’s debts, because they disagree with a bill, Obamacare, passed by congress three years ago.

At stake, unlike a “Banana Republic” is the world’s largest economy and the currency of global trade.

Not to mention those out of work, medical projects halted, and the lost revenue from tourists – Yosemite National Park, now shuttered, draws in $350 million a year to the local economy.

“I think the rest of the world thinks it’s so incredible they don’t believe it,” British broadcaster and publisher Andrew Neil told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday. “We’re used to dysfunctional governments in Italy or Greece or some banana republic. But a basic function of government to set tax and spend and agree on a budget.”

The current crisis, the failure to pass a budget that forced a shutdown, is nothing next to the possibility that America would default on its debts.

“The U.S. bonds are by far the most important in the world – they’re the benchmark for the rest of our borrowing in the world,” Neil said. “If the America, of all countries, can’t service it, we are potentially into a financial crisis much bigger than the one sparked off by Lehman Brothers.”

It is a scary potential, but some House republicans seem all too willing to flirt with disaster – all in the name of defunding Obamacare and reducing spending.

Ryan Lizza, CNN contributor and Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, said that the root cause is the seemingly ludicrous idea among some conservatives that a default – which has never before happened – would be good, because it would spark a debate about spending.

“If you read the conservative press closely,” Lizza told Amanpour, “there’s an argument that has taken hold among some of these folks that a default on the debt would not be as catastrophic as some people think would it be.”

So how can it come to this?

It would certainly be going too far to call America a “failed state,” but it is no doubt in the back of the minds of many around the world.

“Americans love their constitution. They think it’s one of the greatest political constructions the world has ever known – and it is,” he said. “But it has the complicated system of checks and balances, which if it doesn’t operate leads to a rigor mortis that would be inconceivable in a parliamentary democracy like Germany or the United Kingdom.”

Neil was a White House correspondent in the 1980s when Tipp O’Neill (a “liberal democrat out of the Boston machine”) was speaker of the House and Ronald Reagan (a “radical Republican from California”) was president.

But “none of this ever happened,” he told Amanpour, “because they had a basic respect for each other and they knew they had to compromise in the end.”

The group of radical Republicans currently in the House, he said, seem to have no interest in doing so.

Lizza told Amanpour that those Republicans forced their Republican leader, John Boehner, to take this course of action.

“Eighty very conservative Republicans,” Lizza told Amanpour, “who won their districts by an average of thirty four points – in other words they don’t care about Democrats opposing them, they only care about Republicans primarying them – they forced Boehner to do this.”

Indeed, Neil agreed, the Tea Party Republicans hate Boehner “almost as much” as they hate President Obama.

Boehner has blamed the president for failing to negotiate, but Obama has rejected that wholesale.

“I shouldn't have to offer anything,” President Obama told NPR. “They're not doing me a favor by paying for things that they have already approved for the government to do. That's part of their basic function of government; that's not doing me a favor.”

Both Neil and Lizza agreed that this was a “systematic” problem that has resulted in a “dysfunctional democracy,” as Neil put it.

“America’s good at lecturing the rest of the world on governance,” Neil told Amanpour. “I think the rest of the world is going to need to give America a few lectures on governance.”

It is not, although it appears so on paper, electoral boundaries have been gerrymandered ...similar to a third world country stuffing ballot boxes

October 1, 2013 at 10:49 pm |

Jeff

Yes, it is called voting. Every two years we have the ability to clean house of those who are up for re-election. Every 4 years we have the ability to install a new president. There is also something called a recall as witnessed at the state level in Colorado. Amazing what that recall in Colorado did for the thinking of others at all levels of government. Cleaning house in one felt swoop, is not advisable and this should only happen should there be a revolution by force or other means.

As for Amapour, it's not a failed state, it is a failed government which the citizens have been proclaiming for years, if not decades, but the media and government don't care to listen.

Quite often a revolution is by a down-trodden people against an abusive elite. The revolution by the Republicans is just the opposite. AND they get paid during the revolution. Nice work if you can get it it.

October 2, 2013 at 2:42 am |

Promod Pratap

As an immigrant (and a US citizen who passed the citizenship test), I find it difficult to distinguish between the citizens and the government. Since we vote for the government, we "own" it, no?

October 2, 2013 at 7:54 am |

TheBob

Congress has 535 members. It is really sad that Americans are so grossly misinformed and downright uneducated about the structure of their government, how it works, and even the most basic facts. That's how we get here – a Congress that is as ignorant as the people who elected them.

Yes, it is. However, you can, ironically, blame the govt for that as they are so concerned with keeping the people satiated that they don't care what it takes to do it.

October 2, 2013 at 7:27 am |

tadpole

I think by "Congress" it was clear he meant the House of Congress.

October 2, 2013 at 11:13 am |

Avex

You are absolutely right John.

In other stable democracy, such as Australia, there is a rule called "double dissolution" where if there is a continuing impasse between lower house and the senate the leader will call for the parliament to be dissolved, new election to be held and both houses, upon reforming the the new parliament, will vote at the same time in the same hall.

Well its worked pretty well for over 225 yrs. I am sure its a really horrible system.

October 1, 2013 at 11:29 pm |

terminaldogma75

Living with the Westminster system (I think there would be issues with the concept of the US returning to a Westminster parliamentary system) as we do it is certainly different, in some ways better insofar as things like this cannot happen in Australia. As you rightly called it a double dissolution would occur if the parliament was deadlocked, something most members would like to avoid like the plague. That being said from looking at the US Congress vs Australian Parliament (question time) there are times where parliament looks positively juvenile and like a kindergarten.

October 2, 2013 at 12:59 am |

Perry

Not to mention, in other democratic countries like here in Sweden there are more than two political parties which do have political alliances but also have the ability to break away and challenge there alliance. I really do not understand how such a large country could only have two dominant political parties.

October 2, 2013 at 2:37 am |

willknutsen

That seems reasonable, but even better would be to have a better educational system...where everyone learns the same and scientifically correct information. That way there would not be this deep, silly divide of opinions. Private schools such as religious schools are teaching generations of modern youths, ideas that have been shown to be wrong for over a hundred and fifty years!

October 2, 2013 at 2:50 am |

Joseph B

No system is perfect and the American system of checks and balances which worked well for so many years is now broken, where a minority party can have to much power. The filibuster is outdated and should be scrapped. Congress should be required to pass a budget, but not be allowed to have the government shutdown over not extending the deficit.

The radical right wing republicans are to blame for this mess and need to be sent to Afganistan where they can join their fellow fundamentalist extremist, the Taliban.

October 2, 2013 at 6:56 am |

sai kiran sharma

Seems like USA and India have a common problem, called congress. The day these two go out of both the countries, the better it would be.

Africa is a continent with many successful nations and others not doing so well, it is rather IGNORANT to put a blanket view on all those nations... I don't see your point in comparing Africa and America!!!

October 2, 2013 at 7:33 am |

Julian

Is it a coincicence that two democracies that by far require the most private money to fund their democracies are on the ropes? AKA USA and India. Corruption at the core.

America is a failed state. Look at the national debt as an example. America is a country that has it's success from interest that is obtained from Wall Street. This is why they went to the aid of Wall Street. Secondly America is a war machine and makes money from war. By selling arms to other countries who serve as a proxy to fight all of it's enemies. Proxy War is America's favorite word. The reason they are fighting the health care system is that America has an underlying class difference that it is always fighting against. So they want to keep the money and the health care with the rich. The congress is still getting paid. The benefits they have with their insurance the public will never reach. I agree they should be able to call for an election and boot all of them out of office.
America is now changing the dollar as it's national currency to oil and gas. This is why the contact was made with Iran. Iran is sitting on a sea of oil and gas. The Us already have the opec countries in it's pocket. Iran is the last piece of the pie. We can expect WWIII in our life times.

Too true. Aren't there any recall mechanisms that can be fallen back on? Something? Anything? I am gobsmacked by the puerile selfishness of these people. The churlishness and bad taste is beyond the pale. Their personalisation of issues and their determination to cause the president to fail is so apparent, however they couch it, that one has to wonder if these people are even real. But America will rise above this somehow, it is bigger and better than this boorish parliament of (crows, baboons) idiots.

Here in California, we had that sort of fiscal crisis for year, after year, after year - the copper-domed dons would fail to pass a budget on time & we had lots of furloughed employees and other individuals who were not able to meet their basic needs because of a failure to compromise. It didn't help that, once the budget was passed, those who were charged with passing that budget would receive their per diem as a lump-sum for that period. Ten, twenty, thirty days? It didn't matter which party was holding the cards, either. It kept happening. Then, a few years ago, we passed a referendum that said if a balanced budget was not passed ON TIME, that those charged with creating that budget would NOT GET PAID. Not even per diem - UNTIL THAT BUDGET HAD BEEN SIGNED. They were not allowed to take a dime for that period, even after passage of the budget. Not passing a budget on-time seems to be no longer a favorite passtime, here. I think we need something of the sort for our Federal representatives. There is no excuse but a refusal to accept the other party as the 'loyal opposition' (NOT an enemy). Get off your back-sides & DO YOUR JOB, please!

October 2, 2013 at 2:58 pm |

FR

Right on Mr. Hewitt. In what other business do you not get fired if you are unable to do your job (run the government efficiently?) As usual, great discussion by Mrs. Amanpour.

It's too bad the majority of Americans don't have a basic understanding of how government works and what the real issues are and base their votes purely by what they see on TV. Now imagine that uneducated person being given the opportunity to dissolve government...

Too true John Hewitt. I live in South Africa, with a government and police staffed by ex-cons, fraudsters, money-grubbers and the like, and yet- we have not needed to shut our government down. What a joke American government has made of itself. And yet they still feel they have the right to interfere in other countries? Laughable, shocking, outrageous. And the people who really lose are the citizens.

Until the bill is passed that restores pay retroactively. Been done before.

October 1, 2013 at 5:47 pm |

Jeff

I feel for you as in 2008 I LOST my job (and all my benefits immediately) of 22 years because of the failed policies of the government (Federal) that you are now a part of. I now make 1/5 the income of what I used to and cannot live in my house (too expensive) or live near my family due to risk of medical bankruptcy. Well, maybe I don't feel for you. Sorry.

October 1, 2013 at 9:25 pm |

John B.

Typical government employee. Uninformed and ignorant of history. And by the way "without" is an actual word. And "with out" is is nonsense.

I think the media is hyping this thing because as always, they need to stay in business. How on earth does a US government shut down equate to the US being a failed state? It's like .... mountain and mole hill...

World is watching is disbelief, who the hell gives a damn about USA, if it goes down that's someone fun, but who cares about you obese with vanity and flesh creatures, this opinion is shared by millions to your oblivion

Everyone should give a huge "damn" about America and what's going on in it. It s the one country that endeavors to maintain some semblance of sanity in a world that's steadily gong crazy. Perhaps we've got some things wrong in the past but hell, who doesn't? All we have is a minor, temporary setback. We will get through this... as always.

I commend the far right with their stand against Obamacare. A majority of the US public don't want it but Obama and other dems don't want to hear that. The US is in incredible debt but no one wants to do anything about that either except pass it on to the next generation. Obama and Dems are the ones being unreasonable.

In my 56 years on this planet, the federal government has never represented The People. The voting public has been lulled to sleep with cable TV, video games, sports, and other distractions while their livelihoods are being stolen from them. When this nonsense finally hits the fan, there will be chaos. America is likely to look more like the series The Walking Dead only the walking will be not be dead, will be very hungry, will move much faster, and be intent on taking whatever you have left........

Unfortunately it will not be the worlds largest economy for much longer and already alternative currencies are in use for some world trade. The GOP is doing everything it can to destroy America. Teaming up with Islamic Terrorists their desire to add to the body count (lack of medical insurance leads to almost 40,000 GOP murders EACH year Harvard Medical School 10 year study of impact of lack of medical insurance) we must remember the GOP kills more Americans in ONE MONTH than Islamic Terrorists killed in 9/11 and the GOP does NOT want to stop.

There are 150,000 medical malpractice deaths a year. Selective use of facts and hate language aren't bring affordable health care to the public. This got lost in the rush to pass any form of Giverment Health Care for purely political reasons. The original logic was to bring down the costs of health care so people without insurance could then afford it in the open market.

The sadest thing about this comment is you putting "medical treatment" in the same line as "free market" am i the only one that finds this absolutly insane?

October 2, 2013 at 2:45 am |

Richwood7

I do not know how many people go to the hospital every year but iif we say it is 10 million go, than that would equate to 1.5 get poor medical care...of the 40,000 that means 600 will die, so that mean 39,400 are murdered by the Republicans...happy now? Halve the number who go to the hospital, it means the GOP murders bout 38,800. Better?

October 2, 2013 at 9:31 am |

Richwood7

That should be 1.5%

October 2, 2013 at 9:35 am |

Richwood7

You should not play with numbers and use selective facts, try honesty...mybe the GOP would be better off it it used honesty and accurate numbers. The CBO in May of this year told Paul Ryan that the elimination of Obama care would increase the deficit. Do your homework.

October 2, 2013 at 9:39 am |

HUW THOMAS

If we take into consideration the amount of advice and intervention the US has given or enforced upon others in recent history. You would think they'd be able to do a bit of housekeeping.

The stupidity of these Republicans is truly frightening. It's not just stubbornness that is part of the problem, it's pure ignorance of how the US government works. Concerning the debt ceiling, that keeps me up at night, the fact that you have 80 imbeciles who can't sharpen a pencil correctly deciding the economic future of the modern world.

We don't negotiate with hostages and terrorist, we should not negotiate with a handful of teabag idiots holding our gov't hostage. They have debt to pay they already approved! Already approved. Sorry cry babies you lost on the Affordable Care Act. REGISTER to VOTE and VOTE people. Take to the streets (peacefully) get you voice heard. How can we claim exceptional-ism when we can't even approve a budget. The fact that they are getting paid is a slap in the face to all America. Fire them all.

We are all watching in amazement that this happens down south but the USA is hardly a failed state.
It may be one day if you do not put a stop to your excessive borrowing. I believe the US might be
better served if they stop being so generous to the other countries. Put that money on your $16 Trillion
credit card bill. I hope you get back on the right track soonest.

It certainly never failed Israel thus far. Isn't it obvious that this "opposition" by the Republicans is but a way of punishing the US for not having delivered on Syria and Iran by going to war as Israel and its lobby in the US would have liked? To make it even worse, the US seems to be developing an amicable relationship with Iran – this gets exciting for everyone except the war-hungry!

Go ahead. Keep blaming the Republicans while the Democrats refuse to negotiate, meet, talk, or do anything. I understand the media are the minions of the Left. But, those I know hold the media in lower esteem than Congress. Sooner or later both sides must compromise. BOTH

Perhaps. But facing the healthcare issues of the country has been put off again and again. Another name for this is procrastination – and weakness; a lack of the will to do the right thing. When does it stop? I am impressed that for once, someone is putting a foot down...

Hey, didn't I get a scam email from you last week? Something about $7,500,000.00 in a Nigerian bank account waiting to be "released"? And somehow you've concluded that I'm the most trustworthy person on the planet, and you're going to "reward" me with 40% of this money if I help you get it out of the country? Well?

No, we're not a failed state – yet. But you should know that if we did become a failed state, it would be precisely what right-wingers (most of them) want. Neocons have the idea that if they can destroy the middle class and the economy, and render the government incapable of functioning, the country will implode. THEY, then, will be right there to "pick up the pieces," and turn America into THEIR kind of country. It would be ruled by an elite (THEM), and could freely be as oppressive as they wish.

They will succeed in this all the sooner if the public remains ignorant of what they're doing, and what they really want for America.

I can promise you that most of you will be in "shock and awe" when all your rights 'trickle" away, right through your own fingers. But that IS the plan. It would probably help if you knew about the neocons, but it's probably too late for that anyway, by now.

I think american leader should read the book of NAPOLEON HILL again, in one his book you find TOLERANCE, FAILURE AND MANY MORE this book can guide and ignite your principle and belief for the good of all american and the whole world.

The US State isn't a failure, some of the greatest innovations in the last century have come out of the US. The US political system is a complete failure. A two party system no longer represents the dynamic and varied people that live there and the political process is too slow for the fast paced world we now live in. It hovers somewhere between center right and right right. Unless the political process changes, nothing will change. Although it does keep us entertained watching from New Zealand.

The greatest myth of this era was that the Americans ‘won’ the Cold War. Nobody ‘won’ the Cold War, both sides effectively lost. The Russians who imploded on their own terms lost first because they were much poorer.

Now today America faces the same perils as the Soviet Union i.e Economic & Social rigidity where the U.S cannot manage it’s debt, mass unemployment and no real foreseeable reform, plus it’s an Imperial force that is being resented by the populations of it’s satellite states.

I believe the U.S as a result of it’s hubris will lose it’s Empire and go down the road of Bankruptcy.

It reminds me of the joke about all the body organs wanting to be "the king of all organs":
– The heart starts and says he's so important etc... he smust be king
– The arms argue that without them the body would be useless
– then the brain, the legs, the liver etc.
At one point the a..hole says that he too, must be the King.
All other organs laugh at him.

The he decides to go on strike and stop functionning....

After 2 days of strike, all other organs elect him the King so he resumes his duty.

As a Canadian who has mucho ties to the U.S.A. I do not think for a second the USA is a failed state. Far from it. I think you're your own worst critic if anything. The U.S.A. can become or do whatever it put it's collective mind to as there is no other country like the U.S.A. anywhere. If you think you're a failed state then you will be. If you believe in your country then you'll be what you were made to be the U.S.A.!!!!

It seems that one need to have an IQ below 50 OR (not, AND) Bank balance above $10 million to become a GOP supporter.

No wonder only 6% of US scientists support GOP while 56% support Dems (slate dot com).
Gradually GOP became a party of white supremacists, gun loving Christian fundamentalists and sycophants of super-rich 'elites'.
Just check the fact- There are 96 Dem Black Congressmen in "modern era"
(since 1929) while there was only 5 frm Republican side. 3 Dem,1 GOP Black
senator (wiki).

Dems can attach universal background and mental health check, banning all assault rifles, Election campaign finance bill (that GOP blocked in 2010) with any issue while negotiating with the GOP and its Tea Party bigots.

It is always just a few who force people to change their thinking and actually start necessary changes. So quit bickering like children, blaming each other, and help those few to change the system, that does not work.

Lets see what happened today: I shopped for health insurance that I am guaranteed to get; my garbage was picked up; the police drove around town; my kids walked to a freely provided school; i bought gasoline; and I got laid.

Hey idi0t s#&thead, let me clue you in on some things. Garbage collection, police and schools are services provided by the CITY and COUNTY governments, NOT the Federal government. And gas stations are private businesses, nothing to do with any government of ANY KIND.

I cringe at the thought of people like you breeding. That's how we've ended up with giant mess we're in. Uneducated inbred m0r0ns who have no clue how anything works.

The US isn't a failed state yet, but its on the edge of the precipice to becoming one. Where does one even start to begin? Is it the system that is corrupt, the fact policies are decided by corporations and lobbyists? Is it the billions upon billions of dollars being wasted by the Pentagon for no real gain in security? Is it the police state that spies on its citizens, its allies and the rest of the world? Is it the lack of courage to deal with mass shootings? Is it the country that would spend hundreds of billions in finding new ways of killing people instead of spending it on critical areas like infrastructure and affordable health care? Is it the total lack of accountability? Is it the crippling debt that with one wrong move could send everything into a depression? One could go on forever.
The US's priorities are all wrong. The Soviet Union had its collapse, it certainly looks like the US is going to follow.

Now I have seen everything. Every time there is a Democrat in office, the Republicans want to threat with a shutdown. From now on I will vote, VOTE, VOTE everything Democrat because at least they act with the people in mind and not as group house reps that wants to score a point on the score board.

Jose, it is EXACTLY that thinking that got the US in this mess in the first place!

October 2, 2013 at 9:10 am |

Olin Anderson

Baloney! Yes, the people we have in Congress are idiots – which unfortuntely does not say anything good about the people electing them – but to even raise the spectre of the US being a failed state is ludicrous. Mistakes and all, the US is still a world power and looked to by most peoples – especially when there are troubles to be solved. The evidence of the strength is that even with the idiots in Washington, the US will come out of this with no significant loss – at least after some initial consequences. Now, maybe this speaks at least as much to the status of the countries of the rest of the world, but that's the way it is.

The United States of America is a powerful country with enough money to cover all of its population nesecidades especially health and education (all classes). Because do not forget money for a second and think about the excellent health that could be all there, what would be the envy of other countries.

America was great when all it's products were made in US. A lot of employees (read jobs) were needed to fulfill the demand and "Made in America" meant a quality product. (As know is "Made in Germany" . Find a way for all the multinational companies to return to USA to make their products and I assure you the economical problems will be gone.

To me the problem is still the same one for the last 5 years – the right wing completely went over the edge when a black man was elected president. When people panic they get extreme and make poor decisions, like letting those nutjobs in the Tea Party actually hold office. Congress wasn't great before they joined, but they've sunken considerably since they were elected. The Dems are still largely the same as they have been for decades, but the Republican's let themselves fall to pieces and are the most to blame for the poor state of the US.

If America is a failed state, then the whole world is a failed world. America is known for its greatness, but of late even I've been wondering if democracy is only a Sham in US, coz it never feels the elected people are actually the representatives of the people. People are taken for a long nice ride by the politicians.

Is the US a failed state? Ridiculous and a touch insulting. With about 75% of governmental services funded there is no threat that the sky will fall on our heads. What we are watching is political theater.

If we don't get paid they shouldn't get paid. they are American citizens they should have to feel what we feel. that should be a new law if they cant get over bein kids then they should pay the price too not just the people

WAKE UP, PEOPLE... Are you all asleep at the wheel??
Obama, like most of the Euro Zone MPS today and EU Commission is totally "controlled" by the World Bank and New World Order– operated by the IMF, ECB & Federal Reserve in Washington... Obama takes his orders from Bankers and is a puppet like all EU Governments. Obama is just a new George Bush with same "Banker's agenda."

The World Press is also in on this game, taking their orders what to write/show on News, controlled by Bankers. The PLOT by these Bankers and Press is to demoralize citizens and break you, so you will easily SUBMIT to their sick plans to control the entire WORLD..! - DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT - Stop voting for the same old corrupt Parties & be very CAREFUL from now on WHO you vote for next time!

This will DESTROY their plans totally, and they will all be out of jobs, not you!

Exactly. Civil disobedience is a start. Reform is a start. But guess what, this will never happen. Americans as a whole are sheepish and ignorant. Any thought by someone outside the socially accepted norm(ie The government has OUR best interests in mind; Big companies dont buy the government; Ect Ect Ect) are assumed to have a tin foil hat(or 3) at hand. That and people in general are afraid of change. Disobedience is a BIG change.

Its not hard to see that big brother has their own agenda, and the working force that drive this country have no say in policy. That's what "elections" are for right? We elect someone to represent ourselves and beliefs. LOL. Elections are nothing more than a manipulation tool to make the people feel like they have a voice in the government. News flash people, the government is ran by those 1%'s, not the people. They elect who they want, even if the popular vote is in favor of Average Joe. You think Big Business is going to allow Joe to take office and ruin their "interests"? Sure, believe that if you want.

Until America(that would be the PEOPLE) as a whole gathers with pitchforks in hand, and confront the oppressors(that would be the GOVERNMENT, and their pimps), and take back what is rightfully ours...well nothing will happen. We are a broken, manipulated people, its just the way it is. Until average joe stands up, and yells "enough", and others take up the cry until it rages across the country, then nothing will happen. Thats just the way things are. You can all be keyboard warriors if you want, here on CNN(and other sites), griping about how unfair it is Congress gets paid, while others don't. Or whine about NSA spying on you; Or anything else that gets your blood roiling for that matter. Your words are wind, because we are just sheep bleating at each other. Instead of bleating...DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Here, i'll get you started:

VIVA LA REVOLUTION!.
Or if you're french, Vive la Résistance!

Let those phrases ring around the country. Rise up and storm the sheep pen gate, you can do it, you out number the 1%'ers.

I'm just a keyboard warrior like you, bleating, but my heart burns for change. Until then, i'll wait and hope.

...the problem isnt dems or repubs...its how they are allowed (by us) to raise money. money buys influence,money buys power...and while the supreme court says its free speech, it aint EQUAL speech ...why do we allow our representatives to raise money from outside their district,..state,...and even country? we are to blame...we pay them...how many jobs can you make money on the side while on the clock and still keep your job?..our employees are doing it..stop the money flow and people who actualy care about country will run for office...congress make about 150k a year and yet after 2 or 4 years most leave office as millionaires...our fault...each state can pass legislation to stop this..no more lobbying...no more gridlock...

In most free countries in the world, governments are formed by coalitions reflecting percentages of representatives. Rarely can one party rule alone. In the U.S., it's 51% (Obama's "mandate") rules all. This is unhealthy, and actually dangerous to democracy. The Obama supporters claimed a "sweeping victory," and thought they could rule with hegemonic glee. But oops!, the Republicans have a majority in the House. The current conflict has to do with a perception problem: if I have 51%, I can run roughshod over my opponents. That is neither democratic, nor wise. The U.S. is melting down..

This is not a matter of a failing system, this is what overspending does to a country. I think very few people realise that the US borrow one third of every dollar Washington spends.That's really an insane percentage, imagine that you in your household have to get a loan for every 33 cents in the dollar that you spend. That's not gonna work for long, any household will go broke by doing so. For countries it may look different, but it isnt, the US will have to do something about this huge spending gap or ...........

It s not about Obamacare but about increasing the debt-ceiling. CNN slyly avoids focusing on the main issue, but is trying to portray it as machinations of evil republicans. Someone has to say No More! to piling more and more debt on future generations. True, two or three generations down the road, America will be populated exclusively by Hispanics, Chinese and folks from remote Asian tribes if the current trends are not reversed- so who cares how much debt they will carry? All they will be able to do is to borrow more.

CNN slyly avoids focusing on the main issue, but is trying to portray it as machinations of evil republicans. Someone has to say No More! to piling more and more debt on future generations. True, two or three generations down the road, America will be populated exclusively by Hispanics, Chinese and folks from remote Asian tribes if the current trends are not reversed- so who cares how much debt they will carry? All they will be able to do is to borrow more.

Barrack Obama, like most of the Euro Zone MPS and EU Commission is controlled by the World Bank and New World Order– operated by the IMF, ECB & Federal Reserve in Washington... Obama takes his orders from Bankers and is a puppet like all EU Governments. Obama is just a new George Bush with same "Banker Agenda."

The World Press is also in on this game also taking their orders what to write or show on the News, controlled by Bankers too. The PLOT by these Bankers and Press is to demoralize citizens and break you, so you will easily SUBMIT to their sick plans to control the entire WORLD.

DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT - Stop voting for the same old corrupt Parties & be very CAREFUL from now on WHO you vote for next time...

This will DESTROY their plans totally, and they will all be out of jobs, not you!

The best weapon against espionage is to pay employees in time regularly and fair . The actualy situation does not fit with americas security interests . They are violated by those , the tea party movement ,who allways consider the security interests of the USA as mainly important . This maybe just a little aspect of the whole situation , but it shows the character of the tea party movement . Either they are not able or they are not willing to realize what they are doing . Or they do realize it and are planning to blame the goverment for the consequences of a situaion the tea party movement forced to take place . Those people should never have the power , responsability is something they will never able to understand as large as needed .

“I think the rest of the world thinks it’s so incredible they don’t believe it,” British broadcaster and publisher Andrew Neil told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday. “We’re used to dysfunctional governments in Italy or Greece or some banana republic."
I don't know what mister Neil think about italian goverment, but he's obviously mistaken: everybody knows about the difficult political situation of my country, but as an italian citizen i can tell you that Italy state has never closed for one day any of its public service and left nearly 1.000.000 person in unpaid leave. And we are not a banana republic: remember mister Neil that you were a Roman empire colony some time ago.

This is from a new movement in the country of people who see America going down the drain! They think our country is being run by the big banks and the people who own the banks, the 7 families. Things like morals have gone, and the country seems to be run by the industries and lobbyist, and that is the only ones the elected listen too, not the people, but the companies that pay for the politicians re-election! They need to set term limits, and stop all lobbyist! Them maybe we can get some truly honest people in office.

Hi,
Is America a failed State? No, not yet. The shocking behavior of a minority group of your opposition has redefine the age old American icon “Everything is possible in America”. As standing at the roots of the seven deadly sins in the form of pride with a form of blindness have qualified themselves unfit to govern America.

I highly recommend the book 'Are we Rome?' by Cullen Murphy. I'm about half way through it and he provides some great insight into this exact topic. What made Rome a failed state and how does America fit the mold. The main point here is that we have an opportunity to learn from other people's (i.e. the Romans) mistakes. Not only learn but also to act.

I will have to read that book. Rome fell for multiple reasons and clearly the most influential reason is their massive expansion that they could not retain. How many countries were attacking them throughout the centuries. Its a miracle the Romans survived as long as they did with all the enemies they had. That is not really the US problem. Our problem is that we have massive immigration and free loaders... It will not be the end of us. Just slowing us down for a bit.

The US is not a failed state but it is a failed representative democracy. The outcomes of elections are meaningless when congressional districts are gerrymandered to preordain the outcome and when each and every elected official has received electoral funding money from non-voting: special interest groups, industry and foreign nationals. The ritual of elections is a sham that is maintained to placate the so called electorate. The US needs to ban gerrymandering and hand off re-districting to a disinterested apolitical body. It must ban all campaign contributions from non-voting citizens and put a realistic cap on the amount an individual can contribute to a candidate. It must ban all campaign advertising by outside interests that endorse any particular candidate. The US is not a failed country, it is a corrupted country.

That is the beauty of the American system. That we have checks and balances. If the internal checks and balances are not meeting in the middle and can't come to a head the system shuts down until correct decisions can be made. Its what keeps us safer from dictators and bad law (Obamacare for example)

The world press is not that surprised and TV media only barely mention it as if it was fully expected. According to that press, however, and in a unanimous way, the GOP is held responsible for the disaster. It is pointed out that the Congress did pass Obama care into law, that the Supreme Court approved it, and that 41 attempts have already been made by Republican fanatics to overturned the law. The GOP is perceived as a dying party, one that is now dominated by white supremacist type going for a last hurray in American politics before becoming a regional party at best.

When I was a teenager, 60 minutes was a ground breaking television show. On a weekly basis, the journalists on their show would expose blatant hypocrisy within the Government. The following day, people at the water cooler would discuss these subjects and it seemed like they would generate enough interest to involve the authorities to correct these unfair policies or practices. Today, we have scores of channels that are driven by special interest groups who disregard facts and their views get packaged as facts that are designed to appear as actual news. Large lobbysist groups have one on one access to our elected officials and they essentially bribe our representives by contributing campaign funds and arranging fund raisers. Citizens United has exacerbated this situation by disguising corporations as people and the floodgates were opened. Bottom line, the government doesn't represent the people. Grover Norquist is a lobbyist. His group lobbys representatives by requiring them to sign a pledge never allowing a tax rate increase, no matter what. If this pledge is broken they will primary another candidate to replace the disobedient one. Back in the days of sixty minutes, this would be outragious and the American people would be outraged at this blatant breakdown of government takeover. Instead, CNN and other news networks regularly have Grover Norquist sit in on panel discussions. Our Government has been purchased by special interest groups and the concerns of working class, voting Americans has been negated. America is a failed State and until the influential money is removed from our government, it will get worse.

America is supposed to be the beacon of democracy. Ever since President Obama was elected we have seen some prominent republicans display their unprofessional conduct displayed towards him. In some instances it can be construed as racist. Mr. Obama won the election a second time to the great dismay of many republicans. The republicans are still in denial that they lost. The republicans could care less about the country and are still fuming. Is it any wonder that the republican henchmen have decided to shut down the government. Please ask yourselves are these patriotic people? No. They are self centered egotistical rednecks who want to exhibit their temper tantrums. America is strong. These shenanigans will pass and the government will emerge stronger than ever.

One of the biggest problems in the U.S.A. is the democracy deficit.In general the American people have pretty good ideas on how to run the U.S.A. as shown in regular polling.The problem is that the politicians don't follow public opinion but follow the interests of capital concentrations that is corporations and wealthy individuals instead of what Americans want.It is why so many Americans hate their government.

Not a failed state – but the system itself might have proven to have failed long before now. It shouldn't be realisticly possible for government to shut down just because of what happened. If you fail to get agreement the current budget should run-on as-is. How would that be a bad thing?

Every country has politicians that hate each other now and then but the non-judicial branches of government shouldn't be able to be run by two different parties. It's actually a systemic error – how come is it congress can't remove the sitting president anyway?

As always another thought prevoking program. I was most amazed at reaction by non-U.S. citizens. One of your guests was clear that the Europeans would be angered by a U.S. government shutdown. I found that interesting. It should be noted that the shutdown is in effect by a system of checks and balances within the U.S. political system. Verses a parliamentry system found in the U.K. as an example. Our U.S. system is not perfect. Our system allows for a discussion to find a solution. Most important the U.S. debt can not continue to climb unchecked. The rest of the world may be angered. When our system of government decides that we can no longer finance the rest of the world. In two weeks the real challenge is finding a solution to curb U.S. debt.

CNN has no shame. This is as bad and just as transparent as PRAVDA. Where is the other side's point of view? Is that not important for journalism anymore? LOL. The piece even gives lip service to the idea of giving the viewer the facts and letting them make up their minds but say in this case, no, it's all the republicans' fault.

And let's bring in some random brit to say in their intelligent accent, 'Oh yes, as a foreigner and therefore impartial I can tell you this will destroy the world'. And then the host says "I just got shivers down my spine". WTH has happened to journalism?

Reality – the economy is recovering and regardless of this crisis or the debt ceiling we'll be fine. The markets LOVE to scare you so you sell and they make a profit on shorting stocks. And then they buy and release the analysis that they think everything will be ok (i.e. start buying again and make us more money – fools).

Reality – Washington is in a cold civil war and needs a peace process. It will be broken until this is addressed in a non-partisan way.

Reality – CNN is a mouthpiece for the equivalent tea-party extremists of the democratic party. And they have zero respect for the viewers critical capacity or intelligence. Fox News is shill for the GOP. There is no outsider journalism anymore they are paid propagandists for their political ideologies.

Reality – The news outlets are as destroyed as Washington and are as much to blame for our problems as the parties.

Stupid question. The US is still the most powerful country in the world by far, and the wealthiest. No one asked any question like this when Tip Oneal shut down Ronald Regans government. The media praised O'neal for his courage.

Yes, America is a failed (fascist prison) state, just like democracy and capitalism are failed systems that don't belong in the 21st century. Time for some real change, time for technocracy, transhumanism & a resource based economy.

The U.S. is said to have somewhere between 700 and more than 1,000 foreign military bases worldwide.

The major issue here, aside from the fact that the foreign US troops are often times exempt from the countries laws they are occupying, is that their presence is an imposing and domineering one.

What we don't see, because mainstream media is a joke and in bed with the military industrial complex, is that there are times when these foreign troops kill and rape innocent civilians, bully the local population and desecrate their 'holy' places amongst other criminal acts.

This may seem absolutely absurd based on the limited information we have been subjected to and the elaborate propaganda that surrounds the image of US troops, but I encourage you to listen to the ACTUAL soldiers themselves who have been brave enough to confess about the crimes they committed while occupying overseas.

When compared to the solidarian welfare states of scandinavia, then US is a total flop. Look at the trailerparks in US. It is one of the richest countries in the world and they have the largest communities of poor people living in trailer parks. It is a disgrace for the human kind that the goverments of US keep on doing nothing for the poorest in society, just so they can more easily recruit new none-educated G.I. joes for their armies. Even the fact that education is not free and not a human right in US, is an instrument to keep the majority of the US citizens in ignorance. USA is simply an acronym for WAR. Only the US government would kill their own citisens based on a lie to legitimize a new war. Simply google 911truth, and compare the evidence found at ground zero from hundreds of neautral researchers from around tthe world. The US state is one big lie.

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